Emergency Management

What is an Emergency Management Director?

An Emergency Management Director (EMD) is the local official responsible for planning, coordinating, and managing a community’s emergency preparedness and response activities. Pursuant to Vermont Statute 20 V.S.A. § 6, every town or city shall appoint an EMD to organize how the municipality prepares for, responds to, and recovers from disasters. The Town of Milton requires that any individual holding appointment as the Town's Emergency Management Director, be certified as such, through Vermont Emergency Management (VEM).

Responsibilities of an Emergency Management Director:

1. Manage the Local Emergency Management Organization

The EMD oversees the Town's Emergency Management Organization, which includes coordinating resources such as:

• Police

• Fire

• EMS

• Public Works

• Schools

• Volunteer Organizations

• Transportation Services

Their role is to ensure all these groups can work together during local emergencies and disasters.

2. Develop and Maintain Emergency Plans

The EMD is responsible for creating and maintaining the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and Local Emergency Management Plan (LEMP).
These plans outline:

• Emergency Response Procedures

• Evacuation Plans

• Shelter Operations

• Resource Coordination

• Disaster Communication Protocols

• State & Federal Resources 

• Continuity of Operations & Government

3. Maintain the Emergency Operations Center (EOC)

The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is the central location where municipal leaders coordinate during emergency operations and disasters. The EMD ensures the EOC is maintained in a constant state of readiness and oversees personnel assigned to support emergency operations, as needed. 

The EOC is designed to support:

• Coordination of Mutual Aid Responses

• Coordination of State & Federal Resources (as needed)

• Mass Notifications & Public Information 

• Coordination of Town Resources & Departments

4. Coordinate Emergency Preparedness

The EMD organizes meetings with municipal departments and partners to review:

• Emergency Plans

• Equipment and Resource Capabilities

• Training and Exercises

• Response Coordination

5. Hazard Mitigation Planning

They participate in developing the All-Hazard Mitigation Plan, which identifies risks such as:

• Flooding

• Severe Storms

• Wildfires

• Infrastructure Failure & Vulnerabilities

This plan helps municipalities qualify for disaster funding from agencies like the Federal Emergency Management Agency and highlights areas for improvement to further reduce the likelihood of disasters.

6. Supporting Staff

If needed, the EMD may appoint an Emergency Management Coordinator or assistants to help manage planning, training, and disaster response functions.